GRASSROOTS SUPPORTERS OF ETHANOL TURN OUT FOR INDEPENDENCE DAYAuthor: Growth EnergyWASHINGTON, DC – Supporters of domestic ethanol – from governors to farmers, from NFL players to small business owners – are recognizing America’s Independence Day with calls on Congress to pass legislation that levels the playing field for U.S. ethanol.“Congress is returning from its Independence Day break next week to work on energy and ‘green jobs’ legislation – and we believe domestic ethanol offers many solutions to the problems we face as a country,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, the coalition of domestic ethanol supporters. “Every gallon of ethanol we make here in the United States creates more jobs here that can’t be outsourced. And every gallon of clean-burning domestic ethanol means less reliance on foreign oil – meaning we can clean our air while we strengthen our national security.”Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland led a press conference today at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus; he was joined by representatives of Growth Energy, agriculture and business in a call for Congressional action on behalf of domestic ethanol. Tomorrow, Buis and Gen. Wesley Clark, co-chairman of Growth Energy, will join Indianapolis Colts tight-end Dallas Clark for a presentation on ethanol in Indianapolis. On Thursday, Gen. Clark will be in Ames, Iowa, for a press conference where he will be joined by ethanol producers, farmers and others.Earlier, Congressional leaders indicated they would take up legislation for energy and “green jobs” when they returned from the Fourth of July work period. Growth Energy believes there are several specific measures that should be included in the legislation to build out the infrastructure that opens the fuels market, such as:• Mandates that all automobiles sold in the U.S. be Flex Fuel Vehicles; and• Federal support for the installation of “blender pumps” so consumers – and not Big Oil – have the right to choose their fuel.“I cannot think of a better time to increase our nation’s independence from foreign energy than during the Independence Day holiday. The American people know that America’s fuel is domestic ethanol – and we’re making sure that our friends in Washington, DC, know that, too,” Buis said.# # #About Growth Energy Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.

EPA Greenlights Ethanol Increase in Fuel BlendGrowth Energy: EPA Decision the “First Crack in the Blend Wall” But More Must be Done toReduce Dependence on Foreign OilWASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy today embraced as an “important first step” the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) decision to raise the blend wall from E10 to E15 for 2007 and newer vehicles, inresponse to Growth Energy’s Green Jobs petition. However, the coalition of U.S. ethanol supporters saidmuch more must be done to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, create jobs here in the UnitedStates and improve our environment.Today’s decision will apply to more than 42 million vehicles – about 20 percent of the current fleet ofpassenger cars and light‐duty trucks in the U.S., all 2007 and newer. In November, after engine testingon those models is completed, EPA is expected to decide whether to approve E15 for vehicles 2001 to2006. Approval of those 86 million cars and trucks would mean that E15 would be allowed in more thanhalf of the total passenger cars and light‐duty trucks on the road today.The existing E10 standard – which permits up to 10 percent ethanol blended into fuel – was set in the1970s to help spur the growth of a domestic, renewable fuels industry in answer to America’s first majoroil crisis, engineered by OPEC. In March 2009, Growth Energy filed a petition with EPA to permit theraising of that regulatory cap on the ethanol blend from 10 percent to 15 percent.“Today’s approval of E15 for newer vehicles is the first crack in the blend wall in more than 30 years, andproves what was laid out in Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver – that E15 is a good fuel for Americanmotorists. And while this is an important first step, there are many more steps we can take towardstrengthening our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil, creating jobs here in theUnited States and improving our environment,” Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, said.“Extensive testing from government, industry and academia proves there is no reason to limit E15 toonly 2007 and newer vehicles. We urge the EPA to quickly follow today’s announcement with theapproval of E15 for all vehicles, so that the American people can choose a blend of fuel that is proven tobe better for our economy, our security and our environment.”According to the U.S. Department of Energy, every billion gallons of American ethanol produced willcreate 10,000 to 20,000 jobs that can never be outsourced. Today, America has the capacity to produceup to 12 billion gallons of ethanol every year, at more than 170 plants across the country. These plantsare mostly in rural communities, where they provide many high‐tech, well paying, much‐needed greenjobs, adding millions of dollars to local and state revenue.There are 12 ethanol plants in Kansas. These ethanol plants produce over 500 million gallons of fuel peryear. It is estimated that Kansas ethanol plants assist in providing over 4,000 jobs throughout Kansasand have contributed to over $170 million back in to the local economies.“ICM has always believed in the contributions of American agriculture, which has historically translatedinto creating a strong economy and boundless opportunities that it brings to all of us,” says ICM CEO andGrowth Energy board member Dave Vander Griend. “Recognizing Growth Energy’s leadership in seekingto permit the raising of the regulatory cap that was imposed several decades ago, we proudly signedonto and supported Growth Energy’s Green Jobs Waiver because it laid the foundation for reducing U.S.dependence on foreign oil, creating and sustaining jobs right here at home, and delivering positivepublic health benefits for our fellow Americans.”“We’re positively encouraged by the EPA’s critical first step in its decision to raise the blend wall fromE10 to E15 for 2007 and newer vehicles. We also believe based upon the extensive testing from severalgovernment, industry and academic sectors that by the end of the year EPA will expand approval of E15to include vehicles 2001 to 2006. According to EPA data, gasoline is the largest source of manmadecarcinogens. Direct particle emissions from transportation are in fact more dangerous to the generalpublic on exposure effects alone, so by penetrating the blend wall to provide E15, we can deliver alarger supply of clean burning, high octane fuel that can effectively mitigate the adverse health effectsof harmful gasoline. We look forward to working with the EPA to provide the consumers with a choice ofa blend of fuel that is scientifically proven to improve our economy, create jobs here that cannot beoutsourced, and reduce chronic public health challenges such as asthma, heart attack, heart and lungdisease – that affect folks of all ages, including our children which are America’s future.”Today’s modern ethanol industry supports U.S. jobs by producing a renewable, domestic fuel that is atleast 59 percent cleaner than conventional gasoline. By allowing E15 as an option on the market, theU.S. could create 136,000 new jobs, decrease carbon emissions equivalent to removing 1.35 millionvehicles from American roads, displace as much as 7 billion gallons of gasoline from imported oil andexpand the market‐demand necessary to help make cellulosic ethanol commercially viable.# # #About Growth EnergyGrowth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economythrough cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanolapproach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotesreducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing ourdependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found atGrowthEnergy.org.

In Landmark Move, EPA Approves Higher Ethanol Blend for Vehicles Built in Last DecadeGrowth Energy: Decision Will Strengthen America’s National Security, Create JobsWASHINGTON, DC – Growth Energy announced today that U.S. jobs will be created, carbon removed from the air, and our national security made stronger with a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to raise the amount of ethanol that can be blended into our fuel from 10 percent (E10) to 15 percent (E15) for all vehicles built in the last decade.The decision today to permit E15 for 2001-to-2006 model year vehicles follows an October decision by EPA to permit blends up to E15 in vehicles 2007 model year and newer. The EPA was responding to a regulatory petition, the Green Jobs Waiver, filed in March 2009 by Growth Energy, America’s leading voice for ethanol supporters and producers.A full move to E15 creates a bigger market for American ethanol that could help create as many as 136,000 new jobs in the United States and eliminate as much as 8 million metric tons of GHG emissions from the air in a year — the equivalent of taking 1.35 million vehicles off the road. Increasing the domestic, renewable fuel supply would also displace some of the 7 billion gallons of oil that is imported every day into the United States from countries such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, at a cost of more than $300 billion annually to our economy.“This is a bold move forward, changing America’s energy future for the better,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. “Increased use of ethanol will strengthen our energy security, create U.S. jobs, and improve the environment by displacing conventional gasoline with a low-carbon fuel.”Buis added that with engine and emissions systems testing on cars 2001 through 2010 complete – and showing no issues with using E15 as a fuel – EPA’s approval of E15 should be extended to older vehicles to make continued progress in reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil.“There are many more steps we can take toward achieving our energy security and environmental goals. We commend the EPA and we urge them to continue testing E15 for all vehicles, so that every American motorist has the opportunity to use a blend of fuel that is proven to be better for our economy, our security and our environment.”The previous E10 standard – which permits up to 10 percent ethanol blended into fuel – was set in the 1970s to help spur the growth of a domestic, renewable fuels industry in answer to America’s first major oil crisis, engineered by OPEC. Since then, the United States has remained addicted to foreign oil; two-thirds of the oil used in this country comes from overseas.In March 2009, Growth Energy filed a petition with EPA to permit the raising of that regulatory cap on the ethanol blend from 10 percent to 15 percent to displace more foreign oil.# # #About Growth Energy Growth Energy is a group committed to the promise of agriculture and growing America’s economy through cleaner, greener energy. Growth Energy members recognize America needs a new ethanol approach. Through smart policy reform and a proactive grassroots campaign, Growth Energy promotes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding the use of ethanol in gasoline, decreasing our dependence on foreign oil, and creating American jobs at home. More information can be found at GrowthEnergy.org.